Anencephaly

Absence of Brain, Congenital

Anencephalia

Anencephalias

Anencephalies, Partial

Anencephalus

Anencephaly, Hemicranial

Anencephaly, Incomplete

Anencephaly, Partial

Aprosencephalies

Aprosencephaly

Brain Congenital Absence

Congenital Absence of Brain

Hemicranial Anencephaly

Incomplete Anencephaly

Partial Anencephalies

Partial Anencephaly

A malformation of the nervous system caused by failure of the anterior neuropore to close. Infants are born with intact spinal cords, cerebellums, and brainstems, but lack formation of neural structures above this level. The skull is only partially formed but the eyes are usually normal. This condition may be associated with folate deficiency. Affected infants are only capable of primitive (brain stem) reflexes and usually do not survive for more than two weeks. (From Menkes, Textbook of ChildNeurology, 5th ed, p247)